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A motorised curtain track for bay windows is an electrically driven curtain rail that can be bent, angled or jointed to follow a bay’s shape. It opens and closes your curtains from a remote, app or voice command. Unlike a straight-run motor, it has to cope with corners, extra friction and often heavier fabric.

A bay window is a window space that projects outward from the wall and forms a recess in the room. It is the architectural equivalent of a charming but demanding houseguest. You get light, a window seat and a view of the street. You also get three or five awkward faces of glass that a normal curtain rail simply refuses to follow.
Add a motor and the stakes rise. Every corner adds friction, every metre of thermal lined curtains adds weight, and a cheap carrier that snags at a 135° angle will stall in front of your guests.
This guide pulls together published specifications, manufacturer documentation and aggregated owner feedback from retailer and review pages. It does not rely on lab tests or personal ownership, and I flag it wherever a figure comes from a single source. Below you’ll find seven real options, plus honest guidance on bendable curtain track choices, the best motorised curtain track for heavy curtains, an extra long motorised curtain track kit, and ceiling vs wall brackets.
Quick Comparison: The 7 Best Options at a Glance
| Product | Type | Bay window approach | Stated max curtain weight | Price range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS | Premium track motor | Curved or bent track, 300 mm minimum radius | 35 kg | Premium (motor alone around £500-£600) | Quiet, installer-fitted period bays |
| Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT | Premium heavy-duty motor | Curved or bent track | 60 kg | Premium (motor alone around £500-£600) | Heavy lined curtains, wide bays |
| Quoya AT5810 | Wi-Fi DIY kit | Ceiling mount, listed for bay windows | Sources vary, up to 100 kg claimed | Mid-range (check current price) | Heavy curtains, confident DIYers |
| Quoya QL500 | Wi-Fi DIY kit | Bay accessories for angled runs | 50-60 kg, sources vary | Mid-range (check current price) | Multi-angle bays, long runs |
| ABALON Perfect Wave | Wi-Fi DIY kit | 90° and 135° angle brackets (sold separately) | Check listing | Budget to mid (check current price) | Canted bays on a budget |
| Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track | Made-to-measure | Factory-bent, around 20 cm radius | 40-70 kg by motor | Quote-based | Bespoke curves, contract-grade jobs |
| SwitchBot Curtain 3 | Retrofit driver | Straight U-rail runs; bay use unproven | 16 kg (U Rail version) | Budget (check current price) | Testing motorisation cheaply |
Looking at the table, the two Somfy motors lead on engineering for curves and weight, while Quoya QL500 and ABALON Perfect Wave offer the most accessible DIY routes into a motorised curtain track for bays. Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track is the pick when your bay has an unusual shape that off-the-shelf angles can’t match. SwitchBot Curtain 3 sits at the low-commitment end and is best treated as an experiment on gentle bays rather than a guaranteed fit.
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Top 7 Motorised Curtain Track for Bay Windows: Expert Analysis
1. Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS — whisper-quiet and built for curves
Somfy’s pitch is that motor, rail and pulley were engineered as one system, which matters most at corners, where mismatched parts tend to stall.
The Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS is rated for curtains up to 35 kg on tracks up to 10 m. Its minimum bend radius is 300 mm, so a 90° bay corner works as a gentle rounded turn rather than a sharp mitre. Somfy quotes around 44 dB(A) for its quiet motors, which is far calmer than the buzz of typical budget belt drives. The motor can sit at either end or hide above the track in a false ceiling.
On paper, this is the one to choose when your motorised curtain track for bay windows has to look and sound like part of the house. It is overkill for a spare-room bay with summer-weight fabric.
I couldn’t verify a large pool of independent consumer ratings, so treat this as an installer-led product. One UK homeowner on a Home Assistant forum said their installer preferred Glydea over stand-alone motors for heavy curtains. That is one anecdote, not a consensus.
Pros:
- ✅ Engineered for both straight and curved track
- ✅ Motor can hide above the track in the ceiling
- ✅ Manual operation possible during a power cut
Cons:
- ❌ Track, controls and fitting add to the bill
- ❌ Radio-only control suits some smart-home setups better than others
At the time of research, a UK trade supplier listed the motor alone at roughly £500-£600. That is premium territory, but it is a fair verdict for expensive, heavy curtains you expect to keep for a decade.

2. Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT — the heavyweight for wide, weighty bays
If the Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS is the quiet professional, the 60e is the one you bring in when the curtains arrive on a pallet.
The Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT handles curtains up to 60 kg on tracks up to 12 m, and it is listed for both straight and curved track. A supplier listing says two Glydea motors can be paired for loads up to 100 kg. Confirm that with Somfy or your installer before relying on it. The WT designation points to wired control, so it suits a planned installation more than a plug-and-play weekend.
For anyone hunting the best motorised curtain track for heavy curtains, this is the safest spec-sheet answer. Velvet, interlined and blackout fabrics are the sort of loads the supplier specifically lists. The trade-off is that you are paying for headroom you may never use if your curtains weigh under 10 kg.
Aggregated user feedback specific to this variant was thin when I looked, so I can’t summarise reviewer sentiment honestly. Installer commentary on heavy-curtain performance for the Glydea family is positive, but it is anecdotal.
Pros:
- ✅ 60 kg and 12 m capacity on one motor
- ✅ Suits velvet, linen and blackout fabrics
- ✅ Listed for curved track
Cons:
- ❌ Wired control needs planning
- ❌ Overkill for light curtains
Expect roughly £500-£600 for the motor alone at the time of research; check current price. It is only good value if your curtains are genuinely heavy.
3. Quoya AT5810 — heavy-duty ceiling track for confident DIYers
Quoya’s AT5810 is the model whose Amazon UK listing leads with ceiling mounting for bay windows and heavy curtains.
The Quoya AT5810 connects over Wi-Fi without a separate hub, according to one review site, and works with Alexa, Google and Siri. That review site also states it handles curtains up to 100 kg, a 20% power upgrade over the older QL500. Other sources quote lower figures, so check the listing you’re buying from. A separate 1 m extension with joiner exists for the AT5810 and QL600.
My honest read: the weight headroom is the draw, but a bay window’s corner friction eats into any rating. The same reviewer admits installation is trickier than clipping on a retrofit motor, so allow a full afternoon and a second pair of hands.
Aggregated feedback for Quoya’s brand on Trustpilot says fitting isn’t for beginners and that pre-sales phone advice is worth using. That matches the spec: it is a real track system, not a gadget.
Pros:
- ✅ Listed for bay windows and heavy curtains
- ✅ Wi-Fi control without an extra hub
- ✅ Extra track sections available
Cons:
- ❌ Installation isn’t beginner-friendly
- ❌ Weight figures differ between sources
I couldn’t verify a current UK price, so check current price; it varies with track length. Value depends on how well it handles your specific bay angles.
4. Quoya QL500 — long runs and double-bay accessories
The Quoya QL500 is the older sibling, and it is the one with documented double-bay accessories.
UK listings show tracks adjustable up to about 5.2 m, and a separate wave-curtain accessory set is sold for it. Weight ratings range from 50 to 60 kg depending on the source. That is plenty for lined curtains, but remember that angles reduce effective power.
If you have a three- or five-sided bay and want a motor you can extend, this is the more flexible platform. It is less polished than the Quoya AT5810, and the brackets are different, so check which suits your ceiling.
Reviewer sentiment is genuinely split. One Trustpilot reviewer fitted it around a bay with four angle bends and 9 kg curtains without needing a second motor, and said angled bends do sap motor power. Another reviewer called the system useless for a four-corner 90° bay because the corner sections are made from straight track. Both can be true: success depends on your angles and curtain weight.
Pros:
- ✅ Accessories for double-bay layouts
- ✅ Long runs up to roughly 5 m
- ✅ Optional second motor for heavy windows
Cons:
- ❌ Bay results divide reviewers
- ❌ Wave heading needs a separate accessory set
Price varies with length and accessories; check current price. It is good value for long, multi-angle runs if you accept DIY fitting.
5. ABALON Perfect Wave — dedicated 90° and 135° angle brackets
This ABALON kit earns its place because the brand sells angle brackets made specifically for its motorised rail.
The ABALON Perfect Wave track comes in lengths from 1 to 6 m with a Wi-Fi motor, and it works with Alexa and Google. The 90° and 135° brackets are sold separately. One of those angles matches the typical canted bay, where 135° internal corners are common. The brackets suit all curtain types except eyelet curtains, and pulling the curtain about 10 cm starts the motor.
The analytical take is simple. If your bay has straight faces and clean angles, a rail-plus-angle system is easier than bending a motor-driven track. It is a poor fit for a curved bow window.
One retailer-page reviewer called it the only way they’d found to motorise bay curtains, using two angled connectors, though they called cutting and fitting fiddly. Another reported no problems with a heavy 3 m blackout curtain. Treat these as indicative, not statistical.
Pros:
- ✅ Dedicated 90° and 135° angle brackets
- ✅ Supplied in cuttable sections for tailored lengths
- ✅ Gentle manual pull starts the motor
Cons:
- ❌ Angle brackets cost extra
- ❌ Eyelet curtains aren’t compatible
Check current price for the track and angles together. It is strong value for angular bays on a modest budget.

6. Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track — bespoke bends for awkward shapes
Direct Fabrics is a UK curtain-track supplier, and this made-to-measure system is the benchmark for bespoke curves. It is not sold through Amazon, so I include it as a reference point.
Tracks are bent in the factory, both inward and reverse, at a radius of around 20 cm, and can be continuously curved for bow windows. The motors are quoted as under 40 dB(A), with capacities of 40 kg (S and L) or 70 kg (M). A modular motor allows radio, switch or home-automation control, and the system declutches in a power cut so you can pull curtains by hand. The retailer advertises a 10-year guarantee, so read the terms.
Practically, this means a tight 20 cm radius can follow a bay more faithfully than most DIY kits. Because every piece is made to measure, you pay in lead time and a quote request rather than instant checkout.
I couldn’t find independent review volume, so I can’t summarise sentiment fairly.
Pros:
- ✅ Bends both ways at around 20 cm radius
- ✅ Manual override when power fails
- ✅ Quiet motor, quoted under 40 dB(A)
Cons:
- ❌ Bespoke quote needed, no instant checkout
- ❌ Not available through Amazon
Pricing is quote-based. It is good value only when your bay’s geometry defeats standard angles.
7. SwitchBot Curtain 3 — the low-commitment retrofit option
Not a track at all, but a driver that grips your existing rail and drags the fabric along it.
The U Rail version of SwitchBot Curtain 3 is rated for 16 kg, with a quoted silent mode of around 25 dB. It is Bluetooth-only unless you add a SwitchBot Hub, and the hub also unlocks Matter via Hub 2. U-rail and I-rail versions are different products, so check yours first.
On a bay, the honest verdict is cautious. I found no manufacturer claim that it handles bends, and reviewers of a rival retrofit driver, the Aqara Curtain Driver E1, report stalling on curved or joined rails. Use SwitchBot Curtain 3 on straight faces, or as a cheap trial before committing.
Reviewers on tech sites praise how smoothly it pushes and pulls curtains on straight rails. That is a different test from a bay corner.
Pros:
- ✅ Clips onto an existing rail without drilling
- ✅ Quoted silent mode around 25 dB
- ✅ Matter support via Hub 2
Cons:
- ❌ Bluetooth-only without a hub
- ❌ Bay use is unproven
At the time of research, US pricing was just under $100, and UK pricing is typically in the same ballpark in pounds; check current price. It is excellent value for straight rails and a gamble on bays.
How to Choose a Motorised Curtain Track for Bay Windows
Start with the geometry, then match weight, power and control. Here are seven steps:
- Measure each bay face and note the angles. Typical canted bays use 90°, 135° or 150° corners. Angle counts decide whether you need hinged brackets or a bent track.
- Weigh your curtains realistically. Lined and thermal fabrics weigh more than they look, so add headroom beyond the headline rating.
- Pick a bend strategy. Hand-bent, factory-bent or angle-connector systems behave very differently around corners.
- Choose your power source. Plug-in mains is simplest, battery or solar suits awkward sockets, and hardwiring needs a qualified electrician.
- Check ecosystem fit. Alexa, Google, Matter or radio only: decide before buying, not after.
- Decide ceiling vs wall brackets. It changes look, light leakage and what your ceiling can hold.
- Budget for fitting. A premium motor with a professional installer can match a DIY kit plus replacement parts.

Bendable Curtain Track: Hand-Bent, Factory-Bent or Hinged?
A bendable curtain track is only half the story when a motor is involved. Manual tracks tolerate imperfection. A belt or pulley drive does not.
Hand-bent
Manual bendable tracks, such as the corded Rolls Superglide, bend by hand at home, but only forwards. They’re rated for medium-to-heavy curtains up to about 10 kg. That suits a pull-cord, not a motor with a carrier that must pass every corner.
Factory-bent
Made-to-measure systems bend in dedicated machines. Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track quotes a radius around 20 cm, and Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS quotes a minimum of 300 mm. One US motorised-track guide quotes a 508 mm minimum, so always check the number before you order.
Hinged angles
ABALON Perfect Wave uses 90° and 135° angle brackets instead of bending. That is easier to install on straight faces and a poor match for curves.
Check minimum bend radius, whether reverse bends are allowed, and whether the joins can sit on a straight section. Manufacturers warn against bending right at a track join.
Best Motorised Curtain Track for Heavy Curtains: Reading the Weight Numbers
The best motorised curtain track for heavy curtains is not simply the highest number on the box. Ratings describe straight runs. Bay corners add friction, and a Trustpilot reviewer noted angled bends reduce effective motor power.
For context, manual heavy-duty tracks top out around 10-13.6 kg. A motorised track rated for 35-70 kg has real headroom, but cheap retrofit drivers sit at 12-16 kg.
| Product | Stated capacity |
|---|---|
| Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT | 60 kg |
| Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track | 40-70 kg |
| Quoya QL500 | 50-60 kg (varies by source) |
| SwitchBot Curtain 3 | 16 kg |
As a cautious rule of thumb, not a manufacturer figure, I’d keep real curtain weight well under half the rating on a bay with three or more bends. Where a system allows it, a second motor adds margin. Quoya QL500 offers that option and Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT is listed as pairable.
Extra Long Motorised Curtain Track Kit: When the Bay Is Wider Than the Box
Wide bays and bow windows can run 4-6 m round the curve. An extra long motorised curtain track kit needs more than a long rail.
Quoya QL500 stretches to about 5.2 m on UK listings. ABALON Perfect Wave runs 1-6 m, and a reviewer noted it ships in short sections you cut and join. The Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT reaches 12 m.
Check three things for long runs. First, joins should sit on straight sections, away from bends. Second, you’ll need more brackets, and manufacturers often quote fixings every 300-600 mm. Third, stack-back matters: one supplier suggests wave curtains stack roughly 18 cm per metre of track, so a 5 m track needs about 90 cm of clear space at each stack.
If your bay is wider than any kit, a bespoke track such as Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track may cost less than fighting an undersized system.
Ceiling vs Wall Brackets for Bay Windows: Which Holds Up Better?
| Fixing | Look | Light gap | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling fix | Cleanest, track nearly hidden | Smallest | Modern bays, thermal lined curtains |
| Wall fix | Visible track, classic look | Larger top gap | Period bays with pelmets |
| Recess fix | Flush with ceiling | Minimal | New builds, plastered bulkheads |
Ceiling fixing wins on light control and appearance, and suppliers recommend it for deep headings. Silent Gliss’s heavy-duty guidance, for instance, calls for a flat surface and fixings at set centres. Wall fixing makes sense where the ceiling can’t take screws or a pelmet is planned.
In a bay, check what’s above. Many bay ceilings have lightweight structure or a plasterboard soffit, so find timber or use suitable fixings. Place supports about 200 mm from corners, as manual-track instructions suggest.
Rule of thumb: ceiling fix for heavier curtains and neat looks, wall fix for retrofit and period charm.
Thermal Lined Curtains and Motorised Tracks: Weighing the Winter Payoff
Thermal lined curtains work by trapping air between layers. Groundwork’s thermal curtains guide cites Energy Saving Trust figures that around 18% of heat escapes through windows in an uninsulated house. It also quotes an estimate of about £327 a year off a three-bed’s heating bill from quality thermal curtains.
Bay windows are a heat-loss hotspot. More glazing means more surface for warmth to escape, so well-fitted thermal lined curtains matter here.
Motorisation makes the habit stick. Schedule the curtains to close at dusk, as the guide advises, and open at sunrise to bank free solar warmth.
Weight is the catch. Thermal and blackout linings add mass. If your thermal lined curtains weigh 8-10 kg, a 12-16 kg retrofit driver has little margin. Track-based systems rated 35 kg or more leave comfortable room.
For tight closure, ceiling-fix the track so curtains hang close to the wall. Consider a pelmet, and choose wave or pinch-pleat heading compatible with your carriers.
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Motorised Track vs Retrofit Curtain Driver: Which Suits a Bay?
| Option | Bay window fit | Weight | Install | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-drawn bendable track | Good | Up to about 10-13.6 kg | Easy | Budget bays, no automation |
| Corded bendable track | Good (forward bends) | About 10 kg | Moderate | Heavy curtains by cord |
| SwitchBot Curtain 3 / Aqara Curtain Driver E1 | Straight rails only | 12-16 kg | Very easy | Flat windows |
| Motorised track (e.g. Quoya QL500) | Designed for bends | 35-70 kg class | Moderate to hard | Bay windows |
Hand and corded tracks are cheap. A 3.5 m bendable manual track on Amazon UK sat under £20 at the time of research. They’re a sensible fallback, and cord tensioners keep loops safe. However, they don’t automate anything.
Retrofit drivers are the easiest upgrade, but the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 is built for straight U and I rails, and its reviewers report stalling on curved or joined tracks. That makes a true motorised track the safer route when your bay has corners.
Transformation Guide: Installing Your Track and Surviving the First 30 Days
- Template first. Mark the bay outline on card or paper, as professional guides recommend, before ordering or bending anything.
- Locate your fixings. Find joists or use suitable anchors. Mark supports around 200 mm from corners and every 300-600 mm along straight runs.
- Dry-run the carriers. Fit the track, run the motor with no curtain, and listen for scrapes or hesitation at each corner.
- Hang light first. Attach curtain hooks gently, check the carriers pick up the leading edge, then add full weight.
- Set limits and speed. Slower speeds are quieter and kinder to heavy fabric.
- Handle power safely. Use a plug-in socket where possible. Hardwiring should be done by a qualified electrician, as some electrical work falls under Part P of the Building Regulations in England.
Your first 30 days
- Week 1: Check bracket tightness and joins.
- Week 2: Listen for new noises, and clean dust from the track.
- Week 4: Re-check calibration after fabric settles.
Also check CE or UKCA marking and the supplier’s instructions before you power anything on.
Problem → Solution: Fixing Common Bay Window Track Issues
Problem 1: Stalling at corners. Increase the radius if possible, fit a second motor if offered (as with Quoya QL500), or reduce curtain weight. Check carriers move freely by hand.
Problem 2: Curtains won’t clear the glass. Allow stack-back space. For wave heading, plan roughly 18 cm per metre of track, per one supplier.
Problem 3: Draughts and cold bays. Tighter closure helps: ceiling-fix the track, add thermal lining and fit draught-proofing around the frames. The UK government’s draught-proofing factsheet covers thick curtains and sealing options.
Problem 4: Noisy operation. Lower the speed setting, check for loose brackets, or consider a quieter motor like the Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS.
Problem 5: App or Alexa dropouts. Keep the radio remote as a fallback. Retrofit drivers like SwitchBot Curtain 3 need a hub for voice control.
Real-World Scenarios: Matching Tracks to Homes
Victorian terrace, three-sided bay, lined curtains around 9-10 kg, used daily. A professionally fitted Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS keeps noise down and tolerates the corners. On a tighter budget, a Quoya QL500 with bay accessories is a reasonable DIY alternative, provided you accept the mixed bay feedback.
1930s bow bay, owner-occupier, curtains swapped seasonally. A continuous curve suits bespoke work like Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track, since angle brackets can’t follow an arc.
Modern wide bay with a 5 m run and heavy interlined curtains. The Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT provides the weight margin and length. Pair it with ceiling fixing.
Renter with a straight window beside the bay. A SwitchBot Curtain 3 on a U-rail is a no-drill option. Skip it on the bay unless a trial succeeds.

FAQ
❓ Can you fit a motorised curtain track for bay windows yourself?
❓ How much does a motorised curtain track cost in the UK?
❓ Will thermal lined curtains overload the motor?
❓ Can I control a motorised bay window track with Alexa or Google?
❓ What if my bay is not a standard angle?
Conclusion
Choosing a motorised curtain track for bay windows comes down to three things: how many corners you have, how heavy your curtains are, and how much of the fitting you want to do yourself.
If you want the calmest, most polished result and have the budget, Somfy Glydea Ultra 35e RTS (or the Somfy Glydea Ultra 60e WT for serious weight) is the specification-led choice. DIY fitters will find the most bay-friendly accessories with Quoya QL500, Quoya AT5810 and ABALON Perfect Wave, though real-world bay feedback is mixed and fitting takes patience. Direct Fabrics Electric Curtain Track answers odd shapes and curves, and SwitchBot Curtain 3 is a gentle experiment for straight rails, not a bay guarantee.
Whichever you choose, pair it with well-fitted thermal lined curtains and good draught-proofing. The Energy Saving Trust’s draught-proofing advice is a sensible next read.
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